Ashley performs on Show 432.

Ashley Chiang (French Horn), 16, is a junior at Leman Manhattan Preparatory School. Originally from Taipei, Taiwan, Ashley began her horn study in the third grade as part of her elementary school’s music class. After meeting Brad Gemeinhardt at the Interlochen Arts Camp, she is now his full-time student at Juilliard Pre-College in New York City.

Before attending The Juilliard School, Ashley performed in the Taipei Wind Orchestra & Symphony Band for seven years and the Affiliated Senior High School of National Taiwan Normal University Symphony Orchestra (HSNUSO) for four years. She began competing in the fourth grade and has been the recipient of numerous awards. These include first prize in the Taipei Cultural Cup Music Competition, Taipei Asia Pacific Band Competition, and the Medici International Music Competition, Youth Talent division. She also won second prize in the Taipei Student Music Competition, and the Music & Star Awards. In the summer of 2022, Ashley attended the Interlochen Arts Camp on full scholarship. While there, she was selected for the opportunity to perform in the final concert, and was presented with the Fine Arts Award.

Ashley has had the opportunity to perform in several masterclasses over the years, including with Peter Landgren, Scott Strong, Jaclyn Rainey, Corbin Wagner, Bruce Henniss, Katie Jordan, Rachel Velvikis, Margaret Tung, Jamiee Reynolds, and Leelanee Sterrett. In addition, with the support of sponsors in Taiwan, Ashley has had the opportunity to perform two solo recitals in her home country.

Receiving the Award will allow Ashley to attend a summer program and give her the opportunity to take consultation lessons with prospective college teachers. The scholarship funds will also aid in covering the cost of upcoming college audition travel.

Peter was named Host of From the Top in January 2020.

Peter Dugan’s position is sponsored by Susan and Gerald Slavet.

Peter first appeared on From the Top Show 158, recorded in April 2007, at age 18.

Prizing versatility as the key to the future of classical music, pianist Peter Dugan is equally at home in classical, jazz, and pop idioms.

He is heard nationwide as the  host of NPR’s beloved program From the Top.  He has appeared as a soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician across North America and abroad. 

In 2020, Mr Dugan performed with Joshua Bell on a PBS Broadcast “At Home with Music” and appeared on  the album of the same name on Sony Classical. He was also featured on PBS Great Performances with mezzo-soprano Kara Dugan for the series “Now Hear This”.

A sought-after multi-genre artist, Mr. Dugan has performed in duos and trios with artists ranging from Itzhak Perlman and Renee Fleming to Jesse Colin Young and Glenn Close. Mr Dugan’s debut performances with Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony were described by the Los Angeles Times as “stunning” and by the SF Chronicle as “fearlessly athletic.” The Wall Street Journal described Mr. Dugan’s collaboration with violinist Charles Yang as a “classical-meets-rockstar duo.” Mr. Dugan has been presented in chamber music recitals by Carnegie Hall, Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach, Music at Menlo, Moab Music Festival, and recently in recital with Joshua Bell at the Minnesota Beethoven Festival.  He was the 2019 featured recitalist for the California Association of Professional Music Teachers, and has soloed with the San Francisco Symphony, Houston Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, New World Symphony, and Mid-Texas Symphony.

His album with baritone John Brancy –  A Silent Night: A WWI Memorial in Song – pays homage to composers who lived through, fought in, and died in the Great War. Brancy and Dugan toured this program across North America in commemoration of the centennial of WWI, including performances at The Kennedy Center, Alice Tully Hall, Stanford University, the United States Naval Academy, and the Smithsonian Institute.  Together Brancy and Dugan won first prize at the 2018 Montreal International Music Competition and second prize at the 2017 Wigmore Hall International Song Competition. He can also be heard as the piano soloist on a recording of Ives’ Fourth Symphony from Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony, a recording which the New York Times named one of the top classical albums of 2019. 

Mr. Dugan advocates the importance of music in the community and at all levels of society.  As a founding creator of Operation Superpower, a superhero opera for children, he has traveled to dozens of schools in the greater New York area, performing for students and encouraging them to use their talents – their superpowers – for good.

Mr. Dugan holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from The Juilliard School, where he studied under Matti Raekallio. He was a recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Young Scholar, College Scholar, and Graduate Scholar awards.

He resides in New York City with his wife, mezzo-soprano Kara Dugan, and serves on the piano faculty at the Juilliard School Evening Division. Mr. Dugan is a Yamaha Artist.